ACT Testing Tips
The ACT is a very important test for your future. It can be one of the gateways to a successful college education and the key to admittance into the college of your dreams. However, failing to prepare properly is a great way to end up disappointed in your score and in your results.
So don’t let yourself be disappointed. Instead, take all of the necessary steps to score well on the ACT and to set yourself up for a very bright future. Doing anything less than that is cheating yourself, really.
What can I do to prepare for the ACT?
You can do several things in order to prepare for the ACT. In fact, there are many resources available on the official ACT website at www.actstudent.org. For instance, there is the “Preparing for the ACT” guide that you can download for free. There are also practice questions and answers online and free testing tips. All of these resources are invaluable for serious test takers that want to score as highly as possible.
Follow the instructions
When it comes time to actually take the test, you will need to be careful to follow the instructions exactly. There are several sets of instructions on the testing booklet and for each individual test. Failing to read these instructions could cause you to answer improperly and cost you your score.
Be aware of the time
You shouldn’t keep your eye on the clock for the test’s duration, but you should definitely pay attention to the time, especially when the announcement is made that five minutes are remaining for each test. These announcements can help you take heed of the time you’re spending and hurry up or review your answers. You definitely don’t want to run out of time without having answered questions.
Skip difficult questions
If you find yourself particularly stumped on a question, skip it and come back to it later. There’s no point in wasting precious time on a question you may end up guessing at anyway. Spend the majority of your time answering the questions you know the answers to and go back to the hard ones at the end.
Answer everything
Don’t let the time run out without having answered every single question. Why, you ask? You gain points for every correct answer, but you don’t lose points for incorrect answers. So, even if you guess on a question and get a right answer, you’ll get points. The scoring machine doesn’t know if you guessed! So guessing wrong is better than not guessing at all!
Be Neat
Make sure you fill in the bubbles on the answer sheet completely and neatly. Use a No. 2 pencil only and erase all stray marks and smudges from the answer sheet. Failing to do so can cause the scoring machine to mark a correct answer as incorrect.
Take time to review
If you have time after you answer the questions, try to review your answers to make sure you have completed them to the best of your ability. If you weren’t able to answer some questions, go back and try to answer them now or make an educated guess. Remember: incorrect answers don’t make you lose points, so guessing is worth it if you have the time. You should also take time when you complete the section to erase errant marks. You should get credit for what you’ve gotten correct!
The ACT is a fantastic test and a great way to prove yourself to potential colleges. So do yourself a favor and prepare accordingly. Not doing this will cost you a high score and could potentially cost you the dream of going to the college of your choice. Preparation is the ticket to success on the ACT.
The ACT is a very important test for your future. It can be one of the gateways to a successful college education and the key to admittance into the college of your dreams. However, failing to prepare properly is a great way to end up disappointed in your score and in your results.
So don’t let yourself be disappointed. Instead, take all of the necessary steps to score well on the ACT and to set yourself up for a very bright future. Doing anything less than that is cheating yourself, really.
What can I do to prepare for the ACT?
You can do several things in order to prepare for the ACT. In fact, there are many resources available on the official ACT website at www.actstudent.org. For instance, there is the “Preparing for the ACT” guide that you can download for free. There are also practice questions and answers online and free testing tips. All of these resources are invaluable for serious test takers that want to score as highly as possible.
Follow the instructions
When it comes time to actually take the test, you will need to be careful to follow the instructions exactly. There are several sets of instructions on the testing booklet and for each individual test. Failing to read these instructions could cause you to answer improperly and cost you your score.
Be aware of the time
You shouldn’t keep your eye on the clock for the test’s duration, but you should definitely pay attention to the time, especially when the announcement is made that five minutes are remaining for each test. These announcements can help you take heed of the time you’re spending and hurry up or review your answers. You definitely don’t want to run out of time without having answered questions.
Skip difficult questions
If you find yourself particularly stumped on a question, skip it and come back to it later. There’s no point in wasting precious time on a question you may end up guessing at anyway. Spend the majority of your time answering the questions you know the answers to and go back to the hard ones at the end.
Answer everything
Don’t let the time run out without having answered every single question. Why, you ask? You gain points for every correct answer, but you don’t lose points for incorrect answers. So, even if you guess on a question and get a right answer, you’ll get points. The scoring machine doesn’t know if you guessed! So guessing wrong is better than not guessing at all!
Be Neat
Make sure you fill in the bubbles on the answer sheet completely and neatly. Use a No. 2 pencil only and erase all stray marks and smudges from the answer sheet. Failing to do so can cause the scoring machine to mark a correct answer as incorrect.
Take time to review
If you have time after you answer the questions, try to review your answers to make sure you have completed them to the best of your ability. If you weren’t able to answer some questions, go back and try to answer them now or make an educated guess. Remember: incorrect answers don’t make you lose points, so guessing is worth it if you have the time. You should also take time when you complete the section to erase errant marks. You should get credit for what you’ve gotten correct!
The ACT is a fantastic test and a great way to prove yourself to potential colleges. So do yourself a favor and prepare accordingly. Not doing this will cost you a high score and could potentially cost you the dream of going to the college of your choice. Preparation is the ticket to success on the ACT.